France

Summary

Official Name: French Republic
Population: 67,380,000
Principal Languages: French
Literacy Rate: 99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Salminen 2007, Stephens 1976
Deaf Population: Approx. 4,000,000 (1998 D. Gillot)
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for France is 26. Of these, 25 are living and 1 is extinct. Of the living languages, 15 are indigenous and 10 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 10 are developing, 2 are vigorous, 4 are in trouble, and 7 are dying. Also listed are 22 unestablished languages.

Languages

Algerian Jewish Sign Language ajs: Scattered. Users: Unknown number in France, very few in Israel, none in Algeria (Lanesman and Meir 2012b). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: AJSL, Ghardaia Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Shared sign language
Alsatian gsw: Grand-Est region: south and west bank of Rhine river. Users: 900,000 in France (2013). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Alemannic, Alemannisch, Alsacien, Elsaessisch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
Arabic, Algerian Spoken arq: Users: 1,350,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Moroccan Spoken ary: Users: 1,140,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 46,400 in France (2008 census). Ethnic population: 300,000 (2021 A. Dusséaux). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Tunisian Spoken aeb: Users: 447,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Armenian, Western hyw: Major cities. Users: 70,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Arpitan frp: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Ain, north and central Isere, Loire, Rhone, and Savoy departments; Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region: Doubs, Haute-Alpes, south Jura, and Saone-et-Loire departments; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: border area. Users: 150,000 in France (2013). Total users in all countries: 227,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Recognized language (2013, Law No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Franco-provençal, Patois, Romand, arpetan, francoprovençal, patouès Autonym: Arpitan Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, Southeastern
Basque eus: Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Pyrenees Atlantiques province, Labourd (Lapurdi) and Basse-Navarre departments, Bayonne and Soule areas; border with Spain. Users: 72,000 in France (2013). Ethnic population: 730,000 (Johnstone 1993). Status: 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Euskara Classification: Language isolate
Bengali ben: Users: 7,000 in France (2018), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Breton bre: Brittany region: Finistere, western Cotes-d’Armor, and western Morbihan departments; elsewhere dispersed. Users: 206,000 (2013 R. Milin), decreasing. Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Autonym: Brezhoneg Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic
Caló rmq: Occitania region. Users: 15,000 in France. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Gitano, Iberian Romani Classification: Mixed language, Iberian-Romani
Catalan cat: Occitania region: Pyrenees-Orientales department. Users: 126,000 in France (2013). Status: 5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), education. Alternate Names: Català Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, East Iberian
Cham, Western cja: Users: 1,000 in France. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Chamic, Coastal, Cham
Corsican cos: Corsica region; possibly in Marseilles, Paris, other urban centers. Users: 150,000 in France (2013), decreasing. Ethnic population: 315,000 (2017). Total users in all countries: 151,000. Status: 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of provincial identity in Corsica (2002, Act. No. 2002-92 (22 Jan) on Corsica, Article 7), mainly used in education. Alternate Names: Corse, Corsi, Corso Autonym: Corsu Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Corsican
English eng: Widespread. Users: 26,436,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 236,000 in France (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 26,200,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: anglais Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Erromintxela emx: Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Users: 500 in France (2009 J. McLaughlin). Total users in all countries: 1,000. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Basque Caló, Basque Romani, Caló Vasco, Errumantxela, Euskado-romani, Euskado-rromani Autonym: Erromintxela Classification: Mixed language, Basque-Romani
French fra: Users: 64,000,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 62,700,000 in France (2020). L2 users: 1,300,000 (2022). Total users in all countries: 308,789,120 (as L1: 80,280,240; as L2: 228,508,880). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1958, Constitution, Article 2.1). Autonym: français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
French Sign Language fsl: Scattered. Users: 100,000 in France (2019 Fédération Nationale des Sourds de France). Approximately 0.15% of the total population. Other estimates: 80,000 (1998 D. Gillot), 119,000 deaf signers (2010 Association Française des Interprètes en Language des Signes), 169,000 deaf (2014 IMB), 300,000 (2019 EUD). Approximately 1,000 use the southern variety, called Marseille Sign Language (Sallagoity 1975). Total users in all countries: 103,405. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2005, Code de l’éducation, Partie législative, Deuxième partie, Livre III, Titre 1er, Chapitre II, Article L312-9-1, Section 3 bis), Recognized as a complete language for use in education. Alternate Names: LSF, Langue des signes française Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
German, Standard deu: Users: 4,000,000 in France (2020), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Allemand, Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Hmong Daw mww: Users: 10,000 in France. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Hmong-Mien, Hmongic, Chuanqiandian
Italian ita: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions: Nice, Provence, and Savoy. Users: 829,000 in France (2008 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Italiano, Italien Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Kabuverdianu kea: Users: 26,000 in France (2015 Instituto de Apoio ao Emigrante). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
Kabyle kab: Users: 537,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Kabyle
Khmer khm: Users: 50,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Khmer
Khmu kjg: Users: 1,500 in France (2010). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Khmuic, Mal-Khmu’, Khmu’
Korean kor: Users: 29,200 in France (2019 Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Lesser Antillean French Creole acf: Users: 150,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, French based
Ligurian lij: Corsica region: Bonifacio town; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: between Italy and Monaco borders. Users: 300–400 in Corsica (Salminen 2007). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Ligure Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian
Lorraine Franconian pfl: Grand-Est region: Lorraine, north and east. Users: 400,000 in France (2013). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Francique, Lottrìnger Plàtt, Plàtt Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German
Luxembourgish ltz: Grand-Est region: Moselle river area, Germany border to Luxembourg, Thionville. Users: 40,000 in France (2001 J. Nousse). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Frankish, Luxembourgeois, Lëtzebuergesch, Platt Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German, Moselle Franconian
Morisyen mfe: Users: 1,000 in France (2005). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, French based
Norman French nrf: Normandy: Manche department (Cotentinais dialect); Calvados and Orne departments (Augeron dialect); Seine-Maritime department (Cauchois dialect). Users: 17,000 in France (2015 M. Jones). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Normand, Normaund Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Occitan oci: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Ardeche, Cantal, Drome, Haute-Loire, Isere, Loire, and Puy-de-Dome departments; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Charentes, Correze, and Haute-Vienne departments; Occitania region: all except Pyrenees-Orientales department; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Users: 110,000 in France (Bernissan 2012). Total users in all countries: 218,310. Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Patois Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, Oc
Persian, Iranian pes: Users: 40,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Picard pcd: Hauts-de-France region: Abbeville, Amiens, Arras, Beauvais, Boulogne sur Mer, Calais (except Dunkerque district), Cambrai, Douai, Lille, Saint Quentin, and Valenciennes; Normandy region: near Dieppe, Picardie border. Users: 500,000 in France (Auger 2011). Total users in all countries: 700,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Chti, Chtimi, Patois, Patois de Nord, Roubaignot, Rouchi Autonym: Picard Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Portuguese por: Scattered. Corsica region; Hauts-de-France region: Roubaix, near Belgian border; Île-de-France region: Paris; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Bordeaux; Occitania region: Toulouse. Users: 959,000 in France (2008 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Portugais, Português Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Romani, Balkan rmn: Users: 10,500 in France. 10,000 Arlija, 500 Dzambazi. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan
Romani, Sinte rmo: Scattered. Users: 28,400 in France (2000). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Romanes, Sinte, Sinti, Tsigane Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Romani, Vlax rmy: Users: 10,000 in France. 8,000 Kalderash, 2,000 Lovari. Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Rom, Romanes, Tsigane, Vlax Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
Shuadit sdt: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: Avignon area. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last known speaker, Armand Lunel, died in 1977. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Judeo-Comtadine, Judeo-Provençal, Shuadi Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, Oc
Spanish spa: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Lyon; Île-de-France region: Paris; Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Bordeaux; Occitania region: Toulouse; Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region: Marseilles and Nice. Users: 6,451,000 in France, all users. L1 users: 461,000 in France (2020). L2 users: 5,990,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Castillan, Espagnol, Español Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Tamazight, Central Atlas tzm: Users: 150,000 in France (1995). All Berber speakers 1,500,000 in France. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Atlas
Tamil tam: Paris; major cities. Users: 125,000 in France (Murugaiyan 2013). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Turkish tur: Users: 444,000 in France (2008 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Vietnamese vie: Users: 10,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 592,000 (2000). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese
West Flemish vls: Hauts-de-France region: Dunkerque area and southeast to Belgium border. Users: 30,000 in France (2013). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education. Alternate Names: Flamand, Frans Vlaams, Vlaams, Vlaemsch, Vlamingen, flamand occidental Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
Wolof wol: Users: 35,000 in France (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof

Maps

Andorra, France and Monaco

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in France with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for France is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in France with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for France is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for France in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of France ($149.95, 32 page PDF)

France

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Andorra, France and Monaco

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action